Aeroplane



July 14, 1925. l I 1,545,625

s. WIECHACZY AEROPLANE Filed Dec. 9.41924- INVENTOR Stan/ y Wec/zagy BY,z ATTORNIEY Patented July 14, 1925.

STANLY WIECHACZY, 0F HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN.

AEROPLAN E.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLY WVIECHACZY, a citizen of Poland, residing atHamtranick, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to aeroplanes, having more particclar referenceto an aeroplane provided with movable wings that can be readily adjustedto collapsed position when the aeroplane is not in use, the inventionhaving for an object to provide a novel means for collapsing the wings.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which theVarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a plan view of my improved aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the lin 33 ofFig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing the reference numeral 10 indicates the bodyof the aeroplane, which may be of the usual elongated shape, and whichmay be provided with ordinary landing gear, not necessary to be shownhere, as the same forms no part of the present invention. The aeroplaneis provided with a propeller 11 at its front. end, driven by the usualmotor, and has the usual directing means 12 at its rear end. A smallsupplementary motor, for use when landing may also be provided. Theaeroplane is supported in flight by a plurality of wings. As here shownfront, intermediate and rear pairs of wings, 15, 16 and 17 respectivelyare shown, although the principle of wing mounting might equally well beembodided in a single pair of wings. My improved wing mounting thatpermits of ready collapse of the wings against the body of the aeroplanecomprises for each collapsible wing a pair of vertical guides 20 fittedto the side of the body 10 and extending from top to bottom thereof.Each guide supports a block or head 21 that is slidable therein. Thisblock or head is mounted for vertical adjustment by means of a verticalscrew 22 that is rotatably mounted at opposite ends in the element 20 9,1924. Serial No. 754,737.

and extends through a threaded aperture or boring in the block. Thescrew 22 is pro vlded with a squared upper end for turning, the screwbeing held against longitudinal movement.

For supporting the wing when in extended position I provide a pair oflever arms 25 that are fulcrumed between their ends on thelongitudinally extending rod .26 mounted in brackets 27 fixed to theside of the body 10. The levers extend obliquely upward and outward fromthe body when in their normal position, their fulcrum axis beingrelatively close to their lower ends, these lower ends bearing againstthe side of the body and being preferably urged against the latter bythe springs 28 that are coiled around the rod 26 and connected atopposite ends to said rod and the said lever arms. The lever arms havecrosspieces 29 on their upper ends on which the wing rests freely. Toretain the wings in position against the upward pressure of the airthereon when the aeroplane is in flight cords or cables 32 are attachedto the undersides of the wings and extend inwardly and downwardly,around pulleys 33 mounted on the bottom of the body 10, and upward intothe latter through suitable apertures in the bottom thereof, the otherends of these coils being connected to drums 34 mounted on alongitudinally extending shaft 35 in the body 10. This shaft may besupported by means of brackets such as 36 depending from the top of thebody 10, and may be provided with suitable means for rotation. As hereshown a worm gear 37 is mounted on this shaft and is engaged by a wormpinion 38 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 39 which has a bevelpinion 40 mounted on its lower end. This bevel pinion 40 is engaged by alike pinion 41 on the one end of a short shaft or spindle 42 which has ahand wheel 43 fixed on its other end.

hen it is desired to collapse the wings the cables 32 are loosened. Theshafts 22 are then rotated to lower the blocks 21, and with them theinner ends of the wings, the wings sliding over the upper ends of thelever supports 25 during this movement. hen the blocks reach the lowerportions of the guides 20, noses 21 thereon bear on the lower ends ofthe lever arms 25 and cause the upper ends thereof to be swung inward,these levers finally occupying the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2 of the Ill drawing. During the inward movement of the upper endsof these levers they bear on the wings and swing the latter to avertical position alongside of the body of the aeroplane, as will beapparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent of the Unitedfitates is as follows:

1. In an aeroplane, a body, pairs of ver tical guide elements on saidbody, vertically adjustable blocks on said guide elements wings hingedto said blocks, means independent of said blocks for supporting the saidwings against downward swinging movement, and cables connected to saidwings to hold the same in extended position against upward pressure ofthe air thereon.

2. In an aeroplane, a body, pairs of vertical guide elements on saidbody, blocks vertically adjustable on said guide elements, wings hingedto said blocks, lever arms fulcrumed between their ends to said body andextending obliquely upward and outward swinging movement, the lower endsof said' levers projecting into the path of movement of the said blocksto be engaged by the latter to cause the upper ends of said levers toswing the said wings inwardly toward the said body when the lower blocksare adjusted to the lower portions of the said guide elements.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

STANLY WIECHACZY.

